The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-25
MY PARTNE Err.
whitehall Review.

street. 1t was neither a very responsible nor
very lucrative position, and Tommy las all
his friends called HIM longed, as perhaps
$4,000 young men in a similar situation in
London are longing at this moment. for
chance of turning his braing to better ac-
count than adding up columns of figures and
copying entries from one big book into anoth-
er. The chance did not come, but Tommy
did not despair; and there was this differ
ence between him and the great majority Of
his fellow prisoners of the desk-he had the
pluck to work away manfully at whatever he
thought might possibly some day help. him
to better his position, even though he could
not see exactly how it was to be done.
With this end in view he got up in French,
German and Italian; and he did everything
he could to pick up information as to the fl
nancial circumstances of the customers of
the bank. he scraped acquaintance with
every clerk employed by those who had ae-
counts at the bank, as far as he possibly
could, and picked up in time an idea, more
or less accurate, as to the commercial status
of most Of them.
One day he happened to be at lunch at his
favorite restaurant, when an acquaintance
named Darling, came in and sat down beside
him. After a little casual conversation,
Darling asked him to let him know of any
vacant clerkship he might hear Of
81 will, certainly, old fellow" returned
Tommy; "but hope you haven't got into
row with Appleton" Frederick Appleton
was Darling's brother-in-law, and he was al
so the secretary of the Mudford and County
Chemical Company, In whose counting room
young Darling had subordinate post.)
''Oh. no, nothing of the kind" returned
Darling; and then he changed the subject.
On his way back to the bank after lunch,
Aathers asked himself why Darling should
leave his present situation. He had CAPT
tai prospect there-his brother-in-law being
the secretary; and there was no disagree
ment between him and his influential rela-
tive. Conld it be that Darling had had a
hint from his brother-in-law that the Chem
ical Company was getting into shallow wa
ter, and that it beloved him to be looking
out for another situation? 1t seemed more
than likely; and young Mathers determined
to act at once. He slipped into the bank
parlor that afternoon. hoping to find the ju-
nior partner, MIR. Parr. good natured sort
Of man, who was not likely 90 snub him for
volunteering information. To his disap-
pointment, he found only Mr.. Hodgson,
sour tempered old man, who was struggling
into his overcoat, preparatory to leaving the
Office for the day.
"Well," growled the banker, "what do you
want?"
Tommy was on the point of saying that he
had m 70 r.
ment he had changed his mind.
81 heard something to-day, sir" he re-
piled, ''that made me think that the Mud
ford Company are not in a very good way"
"Well, what of thatP What's that to me ?"
Nothing. sir; only 1 thought there was
no harm in letting you know"
Anything Of that kind you can say to
Mr.. Parkinson" answered the old gentleman
as he seized his umbrella and waddled down
the passage.
Tommy felt snubbed, but he did not mind
that much. he had done what he wanted
brought himself under the personal notice of
one of the partners. If he had given the
hint to Parkinson, the head cashier, Parkin-
son, not he, would have had all the credit of
II. He retired to his place among the other
clerks little sore at the rebuff, yet not en-
tirely dissatisfied.
On his way home Mr.. Hodgson remembered
that the bank held some shares of the Mud
ford Chemical Company as security for the
balance of the account of one of their Gus
tomors who was deemed rather shaky. Next
morning, accordingly, he called Tommy into
his room and questioned him as to the ma
ture Of his information.
Perhaps you will excuse my entering into
GOODNESS.
Mr.. Hodgson dismissed Mathers to his
work with dissatisfied grunt and wave of
his hand. and Immediately set to work to
have the shares of the Mudford Company
exchanged for other securities.
Tommy, who managed to know most of
what happened at the bank, noted the fact
and rejoiced.
Within six weeks the shareholders of the
Mudford Chemical Company met and re-
solved to go into liquidation; and, though
Mr. Hodgsen did not think it worth while to
thank the junior clerk for the information
ne had given, Tommy was perfectly salts
ned. de knew that people do not forget
things which save their pockets.
1t happened that, some months after the
incident Of the Mudford Chemical Company,
Messrs. HodgsoR had important business TO
transact In Turin, and it was thought advis-
able tnat the senior partner should proceed
70 that city to look after it, There was some
idea. If the prospect seemed favorable, Of
starting branch house there. The cues
ton then arose, which of the clerks should
accompany the head of the firm as his secre-
hoAy ou0 AnAs tlOuSoOll, Ol Iut ser
vice which Mathers had rendered him, con-
suited the head cashier on the propriety of
the selection. Parkinson, it happened, had
favorite OF his own, and Tommy would
have lost his opportunity If he had not re-
membered that at one time, when he was
Dent on acquiring foreign tongues, he had
spent his evenings for a few months over an
Italian grammar. He contrived to let this
TACT be known, and in due time Mr.. Parr in
formed his senior partner that sit seemed
that EOnnQ MathnrS knew SopnafhfY0 IF he
language"
This decided the point. Tommy received
his orders, andI in three days more found
himself on board of the Dover and Calais
packet, In charge of large despatch box
and Mr.. Hodgson's bulky portmanteaus. The
Journey was by no means a comfortable one,
for the young man found that he was ex-
pected to travel second class and generally
n ACT as courier 70 his employer. When at last
Turin was reached, things were no better.
Mathers found that his Italian went but a
very LITTLE way; and, besides, he had to do
the work OF three clerks. Sometimes he was
tempted to regret that he had left his COM
Portable rooms IN Torrington Square, Blooms
bury; But in his calmer moments he reflect
ed That at last he was occupying different
position from that Of the rest of his fellow
clerks.
The chief man in Turin, so far as Hodg
son, Dunford q PRrr were concerned, was a
certain Count Marsoni. The counts nobil-
ty did not prevent his being the principal
member of a large firm of merchants and
ship owners. To cultivate this man was,
indeed, the chief reason Of Mr.. Hodgson's
journey TO Turin; and as the old banker
knew very well how to lay aside his crusty
and pompous manner when 1t suited his
beck to do so. he soon came to be not I'M
frequent guest at the Villa Marsoni.
MI Hodgson began to see that there was a
very fair opening for an English bank at Tu-
rim, and he was still engaged in pushing his
way here and there, when be received news
that his wife was seriously ill. This made
MIN hurry off to England, leaving Mathers
behind him to complete TRANSACTION which
ne had already practically arranged
Delighted at being left to represent the
nrm ever SO short time, and ever so formal
a matter, Mathers was pacing one day down
the principal street Of the city with look of
considerable importance ON his face when
he met Conut Marsoni. The count stopped
and asked latter the old banker, when
Tommy proudly informed him thatshe had
returned to England, leaving him in charge
of the affairs of the firm.
"Ah, indeed! Well, there's a little matter
/ wanted to speak of to him."
81 shall be happy to serve you, Count"
said Tommy, in his very best Italian.
Wei, suppose you dine with us tonight
and we can talk 1t over after dinner" re-
turned the Count, who thought he ought to
show little attention to the lonely English
man.
., OF course the invitation was accepted. and